Why scathing Fela songs were not used in upcoming Nollywood movie ’76

Highly anticipated Nollywood film ’76 has many factors that endorse it, including its rich and fascinating parade of creative songs from Nigerian musicians.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s 1971 hit, ‘Buy Africa’ brings to light an era when the military government of the day in Nigeria announced Africa as the focus of its foreign policy

But a few astute critics have questioned the choice of ‘Buy Africa’, wondering why one of Fela’s songs with scathing criticism of the military was not used in ’76; more so as he was an artiste with a known history of rebellion, especially against military governments.

READ: How well do you remember the lyrics of these Fela songs

Executive Producer, Tonye Princewill explained that the movie producers did not want to get too political by forcing its views on the audience. ‘Having a good relationship with the army did not make them immune to criticism. ’76 shows it as it is’, he said.

Princewell added, ‘A good working relationship involves mutual respect. Interestingly the army sees the movie as a platform that would further cement understanding between the military and civilians, even admitting that times are different now’.